English
And, bhikkhus, a wooden bowl should not be kept. Whoever keeps one, commits an offense of wrong-doing.'" Now at that time, the group of six bhikkhus kept bowls of various kinds: gold, silver. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "Just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Bhikkhus, a gold bowl should not be kept... (etc.) a silver bowl should not be kept... a jewel bowl should not be kept... a beryl bowl should not be kept... a crystal bowl should not be kept... a bronze bowl should not be kept... a glass bowl should not be kept... a tin bowl should not be kept... a lead bowl should not be kept... a copper bowl should not be kept. Whoever keeps one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow..." Monks, two bowls – an iron bowl, a clay bowl. 253. At that time, the bowl's base was worn. They reported this to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a bowl-ring." At that time, the group of six monks were wearing various bowl-rings, made of gold, made of silver. People complained, grumbled, criticized – just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures. They reported this to the Blessed One. "Monks, various bowl-rings are not to be worn. Whoever wears one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, two bowl-rings – one made of tin, one made of lead." Thick rings did not fit. They reported this to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to scrape them." They became uneven. They reported this to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, to cut them with a makara-tooth tool." At that time, the group of six monks were wearing colorful bowl-rings, adorned with figures, made like wall-paintings. They wandered about, showing them even in the streets. People complained, grumbled, criticized – just like householders who indulge in sensual pleasures. They reported this to the Blessed One. "Monks, colorful bowl-rings, adorned with figures, made like wall-paintings, are not to be worn. Whoever wears one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, a plain ring." 254. At that time, monks put away a bowl with water in it. The bowl was spoiled. They reported this to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl with water in it is not to be put away. Whoever puts one away, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, to put away the bowl after drying it." At that time, monks dried a wet bowl. The bowl became foul-smelling. They reported this to the Blessed One. "Monks, a wet bowl is not to be dried. Whoever dries one... is an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, having poured out the water, having dried it, to put away the bowl.” At that time, monks put away the bowl in the heat. The color of the bowl was spoiled. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, the bowl should not be put away in the heat. Whoever puts it away, is an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, having dried the bowl in the heat for a moment, to put it away.” At that time, many bowls were left unsupported in the open air. The bowls were broken by a whirlwind. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a bowl stand.” At that time, monks placed the bowl on the edge of a bed. Having fallen down, the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, the bowl should not be placed on the edge of a bed. Whoever places it, is an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks placed the bowl on the edge of a chair. Having fallen down, the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, the bowl should not be placed on the edge of a chair. Whoever places it, is an offense of wrong-doing.” At that time, monks placed the bowl face down on the ground. The rim was scratched. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a grass mat.” The grass mat was eaten by termites. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a cloth.” The cloth was eaten by termites. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a bowl garland.” The bowl garland fell down, and the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a bowl basket.” The bowl was scratched by the bowl basket. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a bowl bag.” It did not have a shoulder strap. To the Blessed One They reported this matter. "I allow, monks, a shoulder-strap, a binding-cord." Now at that time, monks hung their bowls on wall-pegs and on elephant-tusk pegs. Falling down, the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl should not be hung. Whoever hangs one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, monks placed their bowls on beds, and sitting down heedlessly, they crushed and broke the bowls. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl should not be placed on a bed. Whoever places one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, monks placed their bowls on chairs, and sitting down heedlessly, they crushed and broke the bowls. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl should not be placed on a chair. Whoever places one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, monks placed their bowls on their laps, and rising heedlessly. Falling down, the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl should not be placed on the lap. Whoever places one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, monks placed their bowls on umbrellas. By a gust of wind, the umbrella was lifted, and falling down, the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bowl should not be placed on an umbrella. Whoever places one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." 255. Now at that time, monks opened doors with bowls in hand. The door swung back, and the bowl broke. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a door should not be opened with a bowl in hand. Whoever opens one, there is an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, monks went for alms with gourd-bowls. People grumbled, complained, and criticized – "Just like sectarians!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. ‘Monks, one should not go for alms with a gourd-bowl. Whoever does so, commits an offense of wrong-doing.’ Now at that time, monks were going for alms with a pot-bowl. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “Just like sectarians!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, one should not go for alms with a pot-bowl. Whoever does so, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, a certain monk was an all-rag-robe wearer. He carried a skull as a bowl. A certain woman, seeing him, was frightened and screamed: “He is a demon to me!” People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “How can these Sakyan recluses carry a skull as a bowl, just like demon-worshippers!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a skull should not be carried as a bowl. Whoever carries one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. And, monks, one should not be an all-rag-robe wearer. Whoever is so, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks were carrying out scraps, bones, and leftover water with their bowls. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “Whatever these Sakyan recluses eat from, that is their receptacle!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, scraps, or bones, or leftover water should not be carried out with a bowl. Whoever carries them out, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, a receptacle.” 256. Now at that time, monks were sewing robes by hand, tearing them. The robe became uneven. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a knife and a felt mat.” Now at that time, a staff-knife had arisen for the Sangha. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, a staff-knife.” Now at that time, the group of six monks... Monks held various knife handles, made of gold, made of silver. People complained, grumbled, criticized: "Just like householders, enjoyers of sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, various knife handles should not be held. Whoever holds one, there is an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, made of bone, made of ivory, made of horn, made of reed, made of bamboo, made of wood, made of lac, made of fruit, made of metal, made of conch-shell." At that time, monks sewed robes with a cock's feather, with a bamboo sliver. The robe was badly sewn. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a needle." Needles became rusty. "I allow, monks, a needle-case." Needle-cases also became rusty. "I allow, monks, to fill with powder." Even with powder, they became rusty. "I allow, monks, to fill with flour." Even with flour, they became rusty. "I allow, monks, a thread-holder." Even thread-holders became rusty. "I allow, monks, to smear with beeswax." The thread-holder broke. "I allow, monks, a thread-holder box." At that time, monks dug up pegs here and there, tied them, and sewed robes. The robe was crooked. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, a kathina frame, a kathina rope, to tie them here and there, and sew robes." They spread the kathina frame on uneven ground. The kathina frame broke. "Monks, the kathina frame should not be spread on uneven ground. Whoever spreads it, there is an offense of wrong-doing." They spread the kathina frame on the ground. The kathina frame became dusty. "I allow, monks, a grass mat." The inside of the kathina frame wore out. "I allow, monks, to put the cloth on the frame.” The kathina cloth was not sufficient… “I allow, monks, a stick-kathina, a split-bamboo, a needle, a binding string, a binding thread, to sew the robe after binding it.” The seams were uneven… “I allow, monks, a kalimbhaka (a kind of frame).” The threads were crooked… “I allow, monks, a moghasuttaka (a kind of thread).”